Primary ovarian transitional cell carcinoma is extremely rare tumor. The histologic subtype was divided from malignant Brenner tumor due to it's own histologic characteristics and chemosensitive nature. Most of recent studies revealed that transitional cell carcinoma has a good response to chemotherapy and long-term survival. Recent histopathologic reports show that transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and of the ovary are immunophenotypically different. We experienced a case of primary ovarian transitional cell carcinoma, and report this case with a brief review of the concerned literatures.
Brenner Tumor ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Ovary ; Urinary Bladder

A case of 39-year-old diabetic patient with a calcitonin and somatostatin secreting pancreatic islet tumor is presented. He had suffered from chronic diarrhea and dyspepsia for 10 years and was diagnosed with diabetes 2 years ago. Abdominal CT revealed a huge abdominal mass which was considered as a neuroendocrine tumor after US-guided needle biopsy. A distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed. Histologically, tumor cells, amanged in solid sheets, showed small nuclei without significant atypia and granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. Tumor cells showed strong immunoreacitivity for calcitonin and somatostatin. The serum clacitonin was markedly elevated (268.7 pmol/L, normal range; 0.9-7.6 pmol/L). After resection of the tumor, diarrhea and dyspepsia diappeared, and oral glucose tolerance test showed normal glucose tolerance with normalization of calcitonin.
Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Calcitonin* ; Cytoplasm ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diarrhea ; Dyspepsia ; Eosinophils ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pancreatectomy ; Reference Values ; Somatostatin* ; Splenectomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inter-rater agreement for the clinical dysphagia scale (CDS). METHOD: Sixty-seven subjects scheduled to participate in a video-fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were pre-examined by two raters independently within a 24-hour interval. Each item and the total score were compared between the raters. In addition, we investigated whether subtraction of items showing low agreement or modification of rating methods could enhance inter-rater agreement without significant compromise of validity. RESULTS: Inter-rater agreement was excellent for the total score (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC): 0.886). Four items (lip sealing, chewing and mastication, laryngeal elevation, and reflex coughing) did not show excellent agreement (ICC: 0.696, 0.377, 0.446, and kappa: 0.723, respectively). However, subtraction of each item either compromised validity, or did not improve agreement. When redefining 'history of aspiration' and 'lesion location' items, the inter-rater agreement (ICC: 0.912, 0.888, respectively) and correlation with new videofluoroscopic dysphagia score (PCC: 0.576, 0.577, respectively) were enhanced. The CDS showed better agreement and validity in stroke patients compared to non-stroke patients (ICC: 0.917 vs 0.835, PCC: 0.663 vs 0.414). CONCLUSION: The clinical dysphagia scale is a reliable bedside swallowing test. We can improve inter-rater agreement and validity by refining the 'history of aspiration' and 'lesion location' item.
Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Humans ; Mastication ; Reflex ; Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the final diagnosis of patients with unexplained dysphagia and the clinical and laboratory findings supporting the diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 143 patients with dysphagia of unclear etiology who underwent a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). The medical records were reviewed, and patients with a previous history of diseases that could affect swallowing were categorized into a missed group. The remaining patients were divided into an abnormal or normal VFSS group based on the VFSS findings. The clinical course and final diagnosis of each patient were examined. RESULTS: Among the 143 patients, 62 (43%) had a previous history of diseases that could affect swallowing. Of the remaining 81 patients, 58 (72.5%) had normal VFSS findings and 23 (27.5%) had abnormal VFSS findings. A clear cause of dysphagia was not identified in 9 of the 23 patients. In patients in whom a cause was determined, myopathy was the most common cause (n=6), followed by laryngeal neuropathy (n=4) and drug-induced dysphagia (n=3). The mean ages of the patients in the normal and abnormal VFSS groups differed significantly (62.52±15.00 vs. 76.83±10.24 years, respectively; p<0.001 by Student t-test). CONCLUSION: Careful history taking and physical examination are the most important approaches for evaluating patients with unexplained swallowing difficulty. Even if VFSS findings are normal in the pharyngeal phase, some patients may need additional examinations. Electrodiagnostic studies and laboratory tests should be considered for patients with abnormal VFSS findings.
Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Muscular Diseases ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the musculoskeletal cause of hemiplegic shoulder pain using ultrasonographic evaluation of hemiplegic shoulder. METHOD: Thirty-six hemiplegic patients admitted to rehabilitation department were enrolled. Ultrasonographic investigation of shoulder and physical examinations including range of motion (ROM), muscle power, spasticity and subluxation of shoulders were performed. RESULTS: Eighteen (55.6%) patients reported pain in hemiplegic shoulder. The abnormal sonographic findings, ROM, muscle power, spasticity, and subluxation of hemiplegic shoulder were not significantly different between subjects with painful hemiplegic shoulder and those without. The presence of ultrasonographic abnormality combined with focal tenderness, however, was significantly related with the painfulness of hemiplegic shoulder (p-value = 0.03). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ultrasonographic evaluation is useful to investigate the musculoskeletal component of painful hemiplegic shoulder, when collaborated with physical examination of focal tenderness.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in chronic stroke patients and their impact on the perceived quality of life. METHOD: Thirty-eight patients who had suffered unilateral stroke at least 3 months prior to enrollment and showed no severe communication disorder were evaluated. Frequency of lower urinary tract symptoms and their impact on the quality of life were assessed using the Korean version of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and an impact question. The correlation between each symptom score and the perceived quality of life was analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 89.5% of the participants were symptomatic, of which 58.9% complained of moderate to severe symptoms. Nocturia, frequency, and straining were the most frequent symptoms and urgency was the least. The `quality of life' score showed a high correlation with the total IPSS score (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that obstructive symptom was a significant predictor for dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of lower urinary tract symptoms are high in chronic stroke patients. And they have significant influence on the perceived quality of life in chronic stroke survivors.
Communication Disorders ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Nocturia ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; Quality of Life* ; Stroke* ; Survivors* ; Urinary Incontinence

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in hyolaryngeal kinematics at rest and during swallowing in the upright sitting (UP) and the lateral decubitus (LD) postures in healthy adults, and delineating any potential advantages of swallowing while in the LD posture. METHODS: Swallowing was videofluoroscopically evaluated in 20 healthy volunteers in UP and LD postures, based on the movements of hyoid bone, vocal folds, and the bolus head. Parameters included the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS), horizontal and vertical displacement, horizontal and vertical initial position, horizontal and vertical peak position, time to peak position of the hyoid bone and vocal folds, and pharyngeal transit time (PTT). RESULTS: Nine participants were rated PAS 2 in the UP and 1 was rated PAS 2 in the LD (p=0.003) at least 1 out of 3 swallows each posture. The hyoid and vocal folds showed more anterior and superior peak and initial positions in the LD. In addition, swallowing resulted in greater vertical and smaller horizontal displacement of the hyoid in LD posture compared with UP. Time to peak position of the hyoid was shorter in LD. The maximal vertical and horizontal displacement of the vocal folds, and PTT were comparable between postures. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the peak and initial positions of the hyoid and larynx and the pattern of hyoid movement varied significantly depending on the body postures. This study suggests that the LD posture was one of the safe feeding postures without any increased risk compared with UP posture.
Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Deglutition Disorders ; Deglutition* ; Head ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Larynx ; Posture* ; Swallows ; Vocal Cords

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost of brain disorders from individual and social aspects. METHOD: This study employed two complementary methodologies for the estimation: individual survey and collective statistics. The survey recruited 1903 disabled persons, staying at home, registered at public health center as brain disorders. They were asked about epidemiologic, clinical variables, medical cost, employment status and pre-/post-morbid incomes. Collective statistics included mortality data from the national statistical office, report on wage structure report from the ministry of labor and national health insurance statistical yearbook from the national health insurance corporation. Individual cost of brain disorders was estimated by summing direct medical cost and indirect cost from productivity loss (job loss or decreased income). Social cost also comprised direct medical cost and indirect cost; indirect cost corresponded to productivity loss due to healthcare utilization, job loss, decreased income and premature death. RESULTS: Individual cost of brain disorders was 164,041,000 Korean Won (KRW) per patient. 93.3% of the subjects of the survey who were pre-morbidly employed lost their job and the income of those who maintained employment decreased to 51.5% of original income on average. Social cost of brain disorder in 2005 was 9,901,057,327,000 KRW. Major part of social cost was due to job loss. CONCLUSION: Brain disorder imposes substantial amount of economic cost, individually and socially. Especially job loss from disability after brain disorder takes up the largest portion. The results of the study are expected to serve as a foundation for future research and healthcare policy.